Severe Weather – 5.5 Million Texans Face Enhanced Risk Thursday

To look at the graphic representation of today's severe weather threat in the State of Texas as published by the Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Service is a bit like looking at a target. There is certainly a bullseye and it appears as though Mother Nature has zeroed in some 52,000 square miles of prime Texas land to possibly do her worst today.

It is springtime in Texas and if you've been here when the Bluebonnets start blooming you know there will be storms. It's part of the seasonal transition where the state of Texas goes from "the electricity is out because it's too cold" to "the electricity is out because it's too hot". Yeah, we're a bit cynical about the power grid, you should be too.

Power interruptions and outages could be very serious issues for residents of Austin, Abilene, Waco, Killeen, Round Rock, and a lot of other Texas towns and cities during the day on Thursday and extending into the nighttime hours.

That graphic, above, from the Storm Prediction Center shows quite nicely where forecasters believe the worst of today's weather will be focused. If you're not familiar with the SPC's vernacular of "marginal, slight, enhanced, and moderate" when it comes to severe weather, take a gander at the graphic below.

While a lot of media attention will be focused on the parts of Texas under the enhanced risk for severe storms today there are even more people included in the slight risk of severe storms area.

That risk zone includes the major metro areas of Houston, San Antonio, Dallas-Fort Worth, and the mid-cities of the Metroplex as well. That's more than 12 million people who could have their lives interrupted or affected by today's stormy weather forecast.

The threat of strong storms and heavy downpours will persist through the nighttime and into Friday. In fact, the Weather Prediction Center has placed are large portion of the "at-risk" area for severe storms under a similar threat for an excessive rainfall event.

An excessive rainfall event suggests rainfall rates higher than municipal drainage systems are rated for. In layman's terms, it will rain faster than the water can drain and that leads to street flooding and potential road closures.

The prospect of better weather is on the horizon for the weekend but there might be a few tense moments with Mother Nature before all is said and done today and tomorrow in the Lone Star State.